Display device for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A display device for a vehicle includes: a first image control section that displays a first entire image in a certain entire display region; a second image control section that displays a second entire image that is changed from the first entire image in the certain entire display region; and an intermediate image control section that displays a single intermediate entire image indicating an intermediate stage of a change between the first entire image and the second entire image in the certain entire display region. The second image control section displays a final display state in which a certain mark is displayed in a certain portion within the certain display region as the second entire image. The intermediate image control section displays the intermediate entire image having an afterimage of the certain mark being extended in a track direction on a track of the certain mark moving to the certain portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (No.2015-087333) filed on Apr. 22, 2015, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Also, all the references cited hereinare incorporated as a whole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle that ismounted in a vehicle and supplies information to a vehicle crew by animage displayed on a liquid crystal display.

2. Background Art

In the related art, a display device for a vehicle displaying variouskinds of information on a liquid crystal display has been proposed (seePatent Documents 1 and 2). In such a display device for a vehicle,during a change from one image to another image, a plurality of imagesthat are intermediate display contents of those images are interposedtherebetween and the change between the images is smoothly expressed(see Patent Document 3). In addition, there is a display device for avehicle that smoothly expresses the change between the images byperforming a reproducing process of a video file during the change fromone image to another image.

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2012-2629

[Patent Document 2] JP-A-9-292601

[Patent Document 3] JP-A-2013-132972

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the display device for a vehicle described above, in a casewhere the plurality of images are interposed during the change from oneimage to another image, it is necessary to store data of the pluralityof images and there is a problem that storage capacity of the deviceincreases. In addition, even in a case where the video file isreproduced, it is necessary to store data of an original video filehaving a large capacity and there is a problem that the storage capacityof the device increases.

The invention is made to solve the problem described above and an objectof the invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle in which achange between images is smoothly expressed and a storage capacity usedfor smooth expression is reduced.

A display device for a vehicle according to the invention, whichperforms information display by a liquid crystal display, includes afirst image control section that displays a first entire image in acertain entire display region of the liquid crystal display; a secondimage control section that displays a second entire image that ischanged from the first entire image displayed by the first image controlsection in the certain entire display region; and an intermediate imagecontrol section that displays a single intermediate entire imageindicating an intermediate stage of a change between the first entireimage by the first image control section and the second entire image bythe second image control section in the certain entire display region.The second image control section displays a final display state in whicha certain mark is displayed in a certain portion within the certaindisplay region as the second entire image. The intermediate imagecontrol section displays the intermediate entire image having anafterimage of the certain mark extending in a track direction on a trackthat is extended when the certain mark moves to the certain portion.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the afterimage may be a gradation image of which gradation ischanged in an extended direction.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the second image control section may display the secondentire image changed from the first entire image when instructioncontents from a vehicle crew are input thereto.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the first image control section and the second image controlsection may display a plurality of state marks corresponding to aplurality of states of the vehicle in each entire image as a pluralityof the certain marks, and the second image control section may displaythe second entire image in which an arrangement of the plurality ofstate marks is changed from the first entire image.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the first image control section and the second image controlsection may display a still image of which a position is not changed inthe first entire image and the second entire image, and the intermediateimage control section may display the afterimage overlapping the stillimage.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the first image control section and the second image controlsection may display a track image extending in the track direction asthe still image.

In addition, in the display device for a vehicle according to theinvention, the first image control section and the second image controlsection may display the plurality of state marks corresponding to theplurality of states of the vehicle in each entire image as the pluralityof the certain marks, and the second image control section may displaythe second entire image in which the arrangement of the plurality ofstate marks is changed from the first entire image, and the first imagecontrol section and the second image control section may display thestill image at a center of rotation in a case where the track directionis a rotating direction.

According to the display device for a vehicle of the invention, thechange between images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reducea storage capacity used for smooth expression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device for a vehicleaccording to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an instrument for a vehicleincluding a display illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a CPU according to theembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a certain display region.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front views illustrating images of traveling modes,FIG. 5A illustrates a first entire image, and FIG. 5B illustrates asecond entire image.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating an intermediate entire imageinterposed between the first entire image illustrated in FIG. 5A and thesecond entire image illustrated in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating in detail a part of a blur imageBP.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a transition state of a displayimage by the display device for a vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an image displayed together with images ofthe traveling mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the display device fora vehicle according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are front views illustrating images of a display devicefor a vehicle according to a second embodiment, FIG. 11A illustrates afirst entire image, FIG. 11B illustrates a second entire image, and FIG.11C illustrates an intermediate entire image.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are front views illustrating images of a display devicefor a vehicle according to a third embodiment, FIG. 12A illustrates afirst entire image, FIG. 12B illustrates a second entire image, and FIG.12C illustrates an intermediate entire image.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of heater control panelimages.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are front views illustrating images of a displaydevice for a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment, FIG. 14Aillustrates a second entire image, and FIG. 14B illustrates anintermediate entire image.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are front views illustrating images of a display devicefor a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment, FIG. 15A illustrates afirst entire image, FIG. 15B illustrates a second entire image, and 15Cillustrates an intermediate entire image.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are front views illustrating images of a display devicefor a vehicle according to a sixth embodiment, FIG. 16A illustrates afirst entire image, FIG. 16B illustrates a second entire image, and FIG.16C illustrates an intermediate entire image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the invention will be described along with one preferredembodiment, but the invention is not limited to the followingembodiment. The invention may be modified without departing from thescope of the invention and a technique of each embodiment may becombined within a possible range.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device for a vehicleaccording to a first embodiment of the invention. The display device fora vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 is a so-called graphic meter that ismounted in a vehicle and includes a thin film transistor liquid crystaldisplay (TFT-LCD: an example of a liquid crystal display) as a display8. Various kinds of information are supplied to a vehicle crew by theimage displayed on the display 8.

The display 8 is a display unit on which a color image can be displayed.FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an instrument for a vehicleincluding the display 8 illustrated in FIG. 1. An instrument 10 for avehicle illustrated in FIG. 2 is disposed in an instrument panelprovided on a dashboard of the vehicle and displays various alarms, arunning speed, various modes of the vehicle, and the like.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the instrument for a vehicleincludes two displays 8 a and 8 b on a driver seat side. On the otherhand, the instrument 10 for a vehicle includes a warning display section11 a and a shift position indicator 11 b on a passenger seat side of thedisplay 8. The display section 11 a and the indicator 11 b are notconfigured of a liquid crystal display, but are configured of aso-called dial 12 and a lamp (not illustrated) provided on a rearsurface of the dial 12, and display warning contents or a shift positionby lighting of the lamp.

Again, FIG. 1 is referred to. The display device for a vehicle includingthe display 8 described above includes a central processing unit (CPU: afirst image control section, a second image control section, and anintermediate image control section) 1, I/O 2 and 3, a CPU power supply4, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 5, agraphic controller 6, a liquid crystal display (LCD) power supply 7, anda switch 9 in addition to the display 8.

The CPU 1 inputs a signal (IGN+) indicating a state of an ignitionswitch on a vehicle side via the I/O 2 and receives a vehicle statesignal in a CAN communication section using a controller area network(CAN) as a communication protocol via the I/O 3. Moreover, the vehiclestate signal is, for example, a signal including information indicatingvehicle physical quantities such as a vehicle speed and a superchargepressure value.

In addition, the CPU 1 has a function of receiving a command code withrespect to the graphic controller 6. The graphic controller 6 performs adrawing process according to the command code.

The CPU power supply 4 generates a DC voltage (Vcc) necessary for anoperation of the CPU 1 by inputting DC power supplied from a positivepower supply line (+B) of the vehicle side. In addition, the CPU powersupply 4 generates a reset signal if necessary or performs an operationfor suppressing a supply of power in accordance with a sleep signaloutput from the CPU 1. The EEPROM 5 holds contents of programs that areexecuted by the CPU 1, fixed data that is prepared in advance, imagedata that is necessary for drawing, and the like.

The graphic controller 6 performs the drawing process in accordance withthe command code from the CPU 1 and includes a memory 61. The memory 61stores data necessary for drawing and stores image data necessary fordisplaying a speed meter, traveling modes (for example, a normal mode,an eco mode, and a power mode), and the like. The image data is readfrom the EEPROM 5, for example, when turning on an ignition switch andis stored in the memory 61.

Such graphic controller 6 controls a X driver 81 and a Y driver 82 ofthe display 8 by outputting each image data of RGB in the drawingprocess and outputting a horizontal synchronizing signal and a verticalsynchronizing signal to the X driver 81 and the Y driver 82 of thedisplay 8, and displays images such as the speed meter and the travelingmodes on a body section 83 of the display 8.

The LCD power supply 7 inputs DC power supplied from the positive powersupply line (+B) of the vehicle side, generates certain DC powernecessary for displaying of the display 8, and supplies DC power to thedisplay 8.

The switch 9 is an operation section receiving an operation performed bythe vehicle crew and, for example, is configured of a single pressingswitch. In the embodiment, the traveling modes are changed each time theswitch 9 is pressed. Moreover, the switch 9 is not limited to the singlepressing switch and may be a rotary switch or a cross key switch, andmay be a sound recognition section as long as instruction contents fromthe vehicle crew can be input.

Here, the display device for a vehicle according to the embodimentperforms the following characteristic image display if the travelingmodes of the vehicle are changed. Hereinafter, this point will bedescribed.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the CPU 1 according to theembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 1 includes a first imagecontrol section (first image controller) 1 a and a second image controlsection (second image controller) 1 b.

The first image control section 1 a displays a first entire image on acertain entire display region of the display 8. In addition, the secondimage control section 1 b displays a second entire image changed fromthe first entire image displayed by the first image control section 1 aon a certain entire display region.

Here, in the embodiment, the first entire image and the second entireimage are displayed on one of the displays 8 a and 8 b of the display 8illustrated in FIG. 2, but may be displayed on both. Hereinafter, if oneof the displays 8 a and 8 b is not specified, it is simply referred toas the display 8.

In addition, the certain display region of the display 8 refers to thefollowing. FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the certain displayregion. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the certain display region may be anentire screen Ma of the display 8 or may be a part Mi of the screen ofthe display 8. Thus, the first entire image and the second entire imagemay be displayed on the entire screen Ma or may be displayed on the partMi of the screen.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, in order to illustrate an example of acase where the traveling mode is changed, the first entire imagedescribed above is an image indicating a traveling mode before thechange and the second entire image is an image indicating a travelingmode after the change. Moreover, the second entire image indicates afinal display state rather than an image of an intermediate stage of thechange.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front views illustrating the images of the travelingmodes, FIG. 5A illustrates the first entire image, and FIG. 5Billustrates the second entire image. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B,the first and second image control sections 1 a and 1 b display aplurality of mode images (state mark and certain marks) NP, PP, and EPwithin the first and second entire images in accordance with a pluralityof states (traveling modes) of the vehicle.

Here, if a current traveling mode is the eco mode, as illustrated inFIG. 5A, the first image control section 1 a displays the first entireimage, in which an eco mode display image EP is largely disposed in thecenter of the screen, so that the traveling mode is indicated as the ecomode. Moreover, in the first entire image, a normal mode display imageNP indicating another traveling mode is, for example, disposed in anupper right corner of the screen and a power mode display image PP is,for example, disposed in an upper left corner of the screen.

Then, if the switch 9 is pressed once by the vehicle crew from suchdisplay state, the traveling mode is changed from the eco mode to thenormal mode and the second image control section 1 b displays the secondentire image illustrated in FIG. 5B.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the second image control section 1 bdisplays the second entire image as the final display state in which thenormal mode display image NP is largely disposed in the center of thescreen (certain portion) of the display 8 so that the current travelingmode is indicated as the normal mode. Moreover, in the second entireimage, the power mode display image PP that is another traveling mode isdisposed, for example, in the upper right corner of the screen and theeco mode display image EP is disposed, for example, in the upper leftcorner of the screen.

As described above, the second image control section 1 b displays thesecond entire image in which the arrangement of the plurality of themode images NP, PP, and EP is changed from the first entire image as thefinal display state.

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 1 according to the embodimentfurther includes an intermediate image control section (intermediateimage controller) 1 c. The intermediate image control section 1 cdisplays only one (a single) intermediate entire image indicatingintermediate stage of the change on a certain entire display regionbetween the first entire image and the second entire image.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the intermediate entire imageinterposed between the first entire image illustrated in FIG. 5A and thesecond entire image illustrated in FIG. 5B. The intermediate imagecontrol section 1 c displays the intermediate entire image, in which theblur image (afterimage) BP is disposed, on a specific track.

Here, the specific track is a track R1 that is extended when the normalmode display image (certain mark) NP moves to the center of the screen(certain portion). More specifically, the first image control section 1a displays the first entire image in which the normal mode display imageNP is disposed in the upper right corner of the screen. Then, the secondimage control section 1 b displays the second entire image in which thenormal mode display image NP is disposed in the center of the screen(certain portion) of the display 8. As described above, in the firstentire image and the second entire image, the normal mode display imageNP moves from the upper right corner of the screen to the center of thescreen. The specific track is a track of such movement and the normalmode display image NP indicates the track R1 from the upper right cornerof the screen to the center of the screen.

Moreover, as described below, since the normal mode display image NP isexpressed so as to move while drawing an arc from the upper right cornerof the screen toward the center of the screen, the specific track R1rotates from the upper right corner of the screen to the center of thescreen.

In addition, the blur image BP is an image in which the normal modedisplay image NP (certain mark) is extended in the track direction(direction of the track R1). As illustrated in FIG. 6, the blur image BPis an image having the afterimage by being extended in the trackdirection. That is, the blur image BP expresses the afterimage that canbe perceived by a person when the person views a fast moving object andthe like as an image.

Since such intermediate image control section 1 c displays theintermediate entire image, in which the blur image BP is disposed, onthe specific track, a viewer perceives a smooth change similar to a casewhere a plurality of images are interposed or animated images areinterposed between the first and second entire images even if there isonly one interposed image.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view illustrating in detail a part of the blurimage BP. The normal mode display image NP is configured of a characterimage of “NORMAL”. Then, the blur image BP is, for example, illustratedin FIG. 7 as a character “N”.

First, as described above, the blur image BP is extended in the trackdirection. In addition, such blur image BP is a gradation image of whichgradation is changed in an extended direction as indicated by thecharacter of “N” in FIG. 7.

In detail, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the character “N” isformed by causing images GP1 to GP7 of seven “N” to overlap as a resultof extending in the track direction. Among them, the image GP4positioned in the middle of the seven images GP1 to GP7 becomes an imagedarker than the other images. Next, dark images are formed in order ofthe images GP3 and GP5, the images GP2 and GP6, and the images GP1 andGP7.

Moreover, in FIG. 7, only the character “N” in the normal mode displayimage NP configured of the character image of “NORMAL” is exemplified,but the same is applied to the other character “ORMAL”. Furthermore, inthe example illustrated in FIG. 7, the seven images GP1 to GP7 aredescribed as an example, but it is not particularly limited to the sevenimages. In addition, the darkest image is not limited to the image GP4positioned in the middle thereof and the image GP1 or the image GP7positioned at the end thereof may be the darkest image.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating the transition state of the displayimage by the display device for a vehicle according to the embodiment.In more detail, the display device for a vehicle of the embodiment candisplay six entire images AP1 to AP6 illustrated in FIG. 8. Moreover,the entire image AP5 illustrated in FIG. 8 is the same as the imageillustrated in FIG. 5A, the entire image AP6 is the same as the imageillustrated in FIG. 6, and the entire image AP1 is the same as the imageillustrated in FIG. 5B.

In the embodiment, the traveling modes are changed whenever the switch 9is operated. Thus, if the switch 9 is operated from the state where theentire image AP5 is displayed, the entire image AP1 is displayed via theentire image AP6. Similarly, if the switch 9 is operated from the statewhere the entire image AP1 is displayed, the entire image AP3 isdisplayed via the entire image AP2, and if the switch 9 is operated fromthe state where the entire image AP3 is displayed, the entire image AP5is displayed via the entire image AP4. Thus, in a case where the entireimage AP5 is the first entire image, the entire image AP1 corresponds tothe second entire image, in a case where the entire image AP1 is thefirst entire image, the entire image AP3 corresponds to the secondentire image, and in a case where the entire image AP3 is the firstentire image, the entire image AP5 corresponds to the second entireimage.

Here, similar to the entire image AP6 described above, the entire imagesAP2 and AP4 correspond to the intermediate entire image and in theentire image AP2, the blur image BP, in which the power mode displayimage PP is extended in the track direction, is positioned and displayedon the track R1. In the entire image AP4, the blur image BP, in whichthe eco mode display image EP is extended in the track direction, ispositioned and displayed on the track R1.

Furthermore, also as illustrated in each of the intermediate entireimages AP2, AP4, and AP6, the blur image BP is displayed not only on thetrack from the upper right corner of the screen to the center of thescreen, but also on a track R2 from the center of the screen to theupper left corner of the screen and a track R3 from the upper leftcorner of the screen to the upper right corner of the screen. Thus, inthe embodiment, changes of three traveling modes are smoothly expressedby displaying only one intermediate entire image having three blurimages BP.

Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, the first image control section 1a and the second image control section 1 b cause a rotation track image(still image) RP and a vehicle image (still image) VP of which positionsare not changed in the first entire image and the second entire image.

The rotation track image RP is an image extending in the track directionand is a ring-shaped line image covering surroundings of the vehicleimage VP in the example illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8. The first imagecontrol section 1 a and the second image control section 1 b intuitivelytransmit the track direction to the vehicle crew by displaying suchrotation track image RP.

Furthermore, the first image control section 1 a and the second imagecontrol section 1 b display the vehicle image VP in a center of rotationin a rotational direction that is the track direction. As describedabove, the track direction is intuitively transmitted during the changefrom the first entire image to the second entire image by displaying thestill image in the center position of which the position is not changedduring rotation.

In addition, as indicated by each of the intermediate entire images AP2,AP4, and AP6 in FIGS. 6 and 8, the intermediate image control section 1c displays the blur image BP to be overlapped and displayed on therotation track image RP and the vehicle image VP that are the stillimages. Thus, the blur image BP that is extended and the rotation trackimage RP, and the vehicle image VP that are not extended are overlappedand displayed in the intermediate entire image. Then, the change betweenthe images, in which the afterimage is further emphasized, is moresmoothly expressed by the overlap.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an image displayed together with theimages AP1 to AP6 of the traveling mode. As described above, in theembodiment, the display device for a vehicle includes the two displays 8a and 8 b. Thus, the image of the traveling mode illustrated in FIG. 8is displayed on one display 8 and the image illustrated in FIG. 9 can bedisplayed on the other display 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the display device for a vehicle displays arunning speed image P1, a fuel gauge image P2, an average fuelconsumption image P3, an odometer image P4, and an outside temperaturegauge image P5 on the other display 8. Specifically, the display devicefor a vehicle displays the outside temperature gauge image P5 in anupper right corner of the display 8 and displays the fuel gauge image P2in an upper right corner thereof. In addition, the display device for avehicle displays the average fuel consumption image P3 in a lower leftcorner of the display 8 and displays the odometer image P4 in a lowerright corner thereof. Furthermore, the display device for a vehicledisplays the running speed image P1 in a center of the screen of thedisplay 8.

In addition, the display device for a vehicle displays a traveling modeimage (image indicating the eco mode in FIG. 9) P6 between the outsidetemperature gauge image P5 and the fuel gauge image P2. Contents of thetraveling mode image P6 correspond to the traveling mode displayed inone display 8. Thus, if the switch 9 is operated and the traveling modeis changed, image control is performed as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8and also for the other display 8, the contents of the traveling modeimage P6 are changed in conjunction with one display 8.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the display device fora vehicle according to the first embodiment. First, the first imagecontrol section 1 a of the CPU 1 displays the first entire image on thedisplay 8. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the CPU 1 determines whetheran operation is performed with respect to the switch 9 (S1).

If it is determined that the operation is not performed (S1: NO), theprocess is repeated until the operation is performed. On the other hand,if it is determined that the operation is performed (S1: YES), theintermediate image control section 1 c displays the intermediate entireimage in accordance with the first entire image in the current displaythat is stored in advance (S2). The intermediate entire image indicatesthe intermediate stage of the change between the first entire image andthe second entire image, and, as described above, the blur image BP isdisposed on the specific track.

Thereafter, the second image control section 1 b displays the secondentire image that is the final display state (S3). Then, the processillustrated in FIG. 10 is completed. Moreover, the process illustratedin FIG. 10 is repeatedly executed until the power supply of the displaydevice for a vehicle is turned off. In addition, it is needless the saythat the second entire image displayed in step S3 is the first entireimage in the next process illustrated in FIG. 10.

As described above, in the display device for a vehicle according to thefirst embodiment, only one intermediate entire image indicating theintermediate stage of the change between the first entire image and thesecond entire image is displayed. Thus, in order to smoothly express thechange between the first entire image and the second entire image, onlyone intermediate entire image may be stored and it is possible to reducea storage capacity. In addition, the intermediate entire image has theblur image BP in which the mode images NP, PP, and EP are extended inthe track R1 direction on the track R1 when the mode images NP, PP, andEP move to the center of the screen. As described above, similar to acase where a plurality of images are interposed or the animated imagesare interposed, the viewer perceives the smooth change by displaying theblur image BP in which the mode images NP, PP, and EP are extended onthe track R1, for example, even if there is one image. Thus, the changebetween the images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reducethe storage capacity that is used for the smooth expression.

In addition, since the blur image BP is the gradation image of which thegradation is changed in the extended direction, afterimage feeling isfurther increased by the change of the gradation and thereby it ispossible to further smoothly express the change between the images.

In addition, in order to display the second entire image changed fromthe first entire image by inputting instruction contents from thevehicle crew, the image is changed by the switch operation and a soundinput of the vehicle crew, and the like, and then it is possible tosmoothly express the change of the images in accordance with theintention of the vehicle crew.

In addition, the plurality of the mode images NP, PP, and EP aredisplayed within each entire image and the second entire image, in whichthe arrangement of the plurality of the mode images NP, PP, and EP arechanged from the first entire image, and is displayed in accordance withthe plurality of states of the vehicle. Thus, in a case where theplurality of the states of the vehicle are displayed and the currentstate of the vehicle is displayed from the arrangement, it is possibleto smoothly express the change between the images.

In addition, the rotation track image RP and the vehicle image VP ofwhich the positions are not changed in the first entire image and thesecond entire image are displayed, and the blur images BP are overlappedand displayed on the rotation track image RP and the vehicle image VP inthe intermediate entire image. Thus, in the intermediate entire image,the blur image BP that is extended and the rotation track image RP andthe vehicle image VP that are not extended are overlapped and displayed,and then the afterimage feeling is further emphasized by the overlap andit is possible to further smoothly express the change between theimages.

In addition, in order to display the rotation track image RP extendingin the track direction as the still image, it is possible to intuitivelytransmit the track direction to the vehicle crew.

In addition, in a case where the track direction is the rotationaldirection, in order to display the vehicle image VP in the center ofrotation, the vehicle image VP is displayed in the center position thatis not changed during the rotation and it is possible to intuitivelytransmit the track direction during the change from the first entireimage to the second entire image.

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. A displaydevice for a vehicle according to the second embodiment is similar tothat of the first embodiment, but a part of the contents is different.Hereinafter, different points from the first embodiment will bedescribed.

First, the display device for a vehicle according to the secondembodiment is directed to an image change during an automatic gearchange when a vehicle is stopped (including a certain speed or less) ina case of manual reduction of an automatic vehicle. That is, in a caseof the manual reduction in the automatic vehicle, if a vehicle speedbecomes a certain speed or less, the gear becomes automatically a firstspeed in preparation for subsequent starting of a vehicle. Thus, in thedisplay device for a vehicle according to the second embodiment, animage indicating before an automatic gear change corresponds to a firstentire image and an image after the automatic gear change corresponds toa second entire image. Then, the display device for a vehicle displaysan intermediate entire image to be interposed between the entire images.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are front views illustrating images of the displaydevice for a vehicle according to the second embodiment, FIG. 11Aillustrates the first entire image, FIG. 11B illustrates the secondentire image, and FIG. 11C illustrates the intermediate entire image. Asillustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, first and second image controlsections 1 a and 1 b display an eco mode display image EP indicatingthat a traveling mode is an eco mode and an odometer image P4 within thefirst and second entire images.

Furthermore, if the gear is a third speed before the automatic gearchange, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first image control section 1 adisplays the first entire image, in which a third speed image 3P islargely disposed in a center of the screen, to illustrate that thecurrent gear is the third speed.

Then, if the vehicle is gradually decelerated and becomes a certainspeed or less, the second image control section 1 b displays the secondentire image illustrated in FIG. 11B.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the second image control section 1b displays the second entire image, in which a first speed image(certain mark) 1P is largely disposed in the center of the screen(certain portion), to illustrate that the current gear is the firstspeed.

Then, the intermediate image control section 1 c displays theintermediate entire image illustrated in FIG. 11C to be interposedbetween the first entire image and the second entire image.

Here, in the first entire image illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first speedimage 1P is virtually positioned on a lower side on an outside of thescreen and in the second entire image illustrated in FIG. 11B, the thirdspeed image 3P is virtually positioned on an upper side on the outsideof the screen. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 11C, in the secondembodiment, the blur image BP with respect to the first speed image 1Pis displayed on a track R4 until the blur image BP reaches the center ofthe screen from the lower side on the outside of the screen, and theblur image BP with respect to the third speed image 3P is displayed on atrack R5 until the blur image BP reaches the upper side on the outsideof the screen from the center of the screen. Thus, the first speed image1P is expressed so as to slide in from the lower side of the screen andthe third speed image 3P is expressed so as to slide out on the upperside of the screen.

Moreover, similar to the first embodiment, the blur image BP in thesecond embodiment is extended in the track direction and becomes thegradation image. In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 11a to 11C, theeco mode display image EP and the odometer image P4 become still imagesof which positions are not changed in the first entire image and thesecond entire image, and the intermediate image control section 1 cdisplays the blur image BP of the first speed image 1P to be overlappedand displayed on the odometer image P4. Thus, the afterimage feeling isfurther emphasized during slide-in.

Thus, according to the display device for a vehicle of the secondembodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the change between theimages is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reduce the storagecapacity that is used for the smooth expression. In addition, theafterimage feeling is further increased by the change of the gradationand it is possible to further smoothly express the change between theimages. Furthermore, the blur image BP that is extended and the odometerimage (still image) P4 that is not extended are overlapped anddisplayed, and then the afterimage feeling is further emphasized by theoverlap and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images.

Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. A displaydevice for a vehicle according to the third embodiment is similar tothat of the first embodiment, but a part of the contents is different.Hereinafter, different points from the first embodiment will bedescribed.

First, the display device for a vehicle according to the thirdembodiment is directed to an image change when a warning light is turnedon in a display 8. That is, the warning light in the example illustratedin FIG. 2 is not to be displayed on the display 8, but is described tobe turned on by the lamp provided on a rear surface of a dial 12.However, the warning light in the third embodiment is displayed on thedisplay 8. In the display device for a vehicle according to the thirdembodiment, an image indicated before turning on of the warning lightcorresponds to a first entire image and an image after turning on of thewarning light corresponds to a second entire image. Then, the displaydevice for a vehicle causes an intermediate entire image to beinterposed between the entire images.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are front views illustrating images of the displaydevice for a vehicle according to the third embodiment, FIG. 12Aillustrates the first entire image, FIG. 12B illustrates the secondentire image, and FIG. 12C illustrates the intermediate entire image.

A first image control section 1 a displays the first entire image asillustrated in FIG. 12A) before turning on of the warning light, thatis, before generation of warning. Here, since warning is not generatedyet, a dark image, in which there is no content to be displayed, isdisplayed as the first entire image.

Thereafter, for example, if abnormality occurs in an engine, asillustrated in FIG. 12B, a second image control section 1 b displays thesecond entire image which has a warning light image WP (certain mark)indicating engine abnormality in a center of the screen (certainportion).

Then, an intermediate image control section 1 c causes the intermediateentire image as illustrated in FIG. 12C to be interposed between thefirst entire image and the second entire image.

Here, in the first entire image illustrated in FIG. 12A, the warninglight image WP is, for example, virtually positioned on a right side(the driver seat side illustrated in FIG. 2) of the screen. Thus, asillustrated in FIG. 12C, in the third embodiment, a blur image BP withrespect to the warning light image WP is displayed on a track R6 untilthe warning light image WP reaches the center of the screen from theright side of the screen. Therefore, the warning light image WP isexpressed so as to slide in from the right side of the screen.

Moreover, in the third embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, theblur image BP is extended in the track direction and becomes thegradation image. In addition, in the example of FIG. 12B, an exampleshows only one warning light image WP is displayed in the center of thescreen, but is not limited to the example, and, as illustrated in FIG.9, other images may be displayed in addition to the warning light imageWP. In this case, if the still image of which the position is notchanged is included in the other images, the intermediate image controlsection 1 c may cause the blur image BP to be overlapped and displayedon the still image.

In addition, the warning light image WP is not limited to those thatwarn of engine abnormality and may be other images of warning lightssuch as oil pressure abnormality, battery abnormality, and door opening.Furthermore, a plurality of images of warning lights may be displayedwithin the screen.

As described above, in the display device for a vehicle according to thethird embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the change betweenthe images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reduce thestorage capacity that is used for the smooth expression. In addition,the afterimage feeling is further increased by the change of thegradation and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images. Furthermore, the blur image BP that is extended andthe odometer image (still image) P4 that is not extended are overlappedand displayed, and then the afterimage feeling is further emphasized bythe overlap and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images. As a result, the afterimage feeling is emphasizedand then the driver can easily recognize that a warning is emitted.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. A displaydevice for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment is similar tothat of the first embodiment, but a part of the contents is different.Hereinafter, different points from the first embodiment will bedescribed.

First, the display device for a vehicle according to the fourthembodiment is directed to a change in heater control panel imagesdisplayed in a display 8. Here, an example of the heater control panelimages will be described. FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example ofthe heater control panel images. The heater control panel images includeimages 31 to 33 of an air volume item, a temperature item, and anairflow direction item regarding setting of an air volume, atemperature, and an airflow direction within the vehicle, and, forexample, the image 31 of the air volume item, the image 32 of thetemperature item, and the image 33 of the airflow direction item aredisplayed side by side in this order, for example, from the left side(passenger seat side). Moreover, the odometer image P4 and the averagefuel consumption image P3 are also displayed in a lower portion of theheater control panel images.

Furthermore, a frame image 36 indicating a selection item that is acurrent selection is also displayed within the heater control panelimage. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the frame image 36 ispositioned on the image 32 of the temperature item. Thus, the vehicle isin a state where a change operation is performed regarding a settingtemperature. That is, in this state, if the change operation isperformed with respect to a certain operation section, the settingtemperature is higher or lower than the present temperature.

The display device for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment isdirected to the positional change of such frame image 36, an imageindicating before the movement of the frame image 36 corresponds to thefirst entire image, and an image indicating after the movement of theframe image 36 corresponds to the second entire image. Then, the displaydevice for a vehicle causes an intermediate entire image to beinterposed between the entire images. Moreover, in the followingdescription, the heater control panel images illustrated in FIG. 13 arethe first entire image.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are front views illustrating the images of the displaydevice for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment, FIG. 14Aillustrates the second entire image, and FIG. 14B illustrates theintermediate entire image.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the first image control section 1 adisplays the heater control panel image before the movement of the frameimage 36 as the first entire image. Thereafter, for example, the vehiclecrew operates the switch 9 and the like to move the frame image 36 tothe left side. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the second imagecontrol section 1 b displays the second entire image, in which the frameimage (certain mark) 36 is positioned on the image 31 (certain portion)of the air volume item.

Then, the intermediate image control section 1 c causes the intermediateentire image illustrated in FIG. 14B to be interposed between the firstentire image and the second entire image.

That is, the intermediate image control section 1 c displays theintermediate entire image, in which the blur image BP of which the frameimage 36 is extended in the track direction is disposed, on a track R7from the image of the temperature item to the image 31 of the air volumeitem.

Moreover, in the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, theblur image BP is the gradation image. In addition, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 14B, the blur image BP is displayed in anoverlapping manner on the image 31 of the air volume item in which theblur image BP is stopped and the image 32 of the temperature item.

As described above, in the display device for a vehicle according to thefourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the change betweenthe images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reduce thestorage capacity that is used for the smooth expression. In addition,the afterimage feeling is further increased by the change of thegradation and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images. Furthermore, it is possible to smoothly express thechange of the images in accordance with the intention of the vehiclecrew. In addition, the blur image BP that is extended and the odometerimage (still image) P4 that is not extended are displayed in theoverlapping manner, and then the afterimage feeling is furtheremphasized by the overlap and it is possible to further smoothly expressthe change between the images. As a result, it is possible to strengthenthe operational feeling (click feeling) to the driver.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described. A displaydevice for a vehicle according to the fifth embodiment is similar tothat of the first embodiment, but a part of the contents is different.Hereinafter, different points from the first embodiment will bedescribed.

First, similar to the first embodiment, the display device for a vehicleaccording to the fifth embodiment is directed to a change of a travelingmode. Thus, in the display device for a vehicle according to the fifthembodiment, an image before the change of the traveling mode correspondsto a first entire image, and an image after the change of the travelingmode corresponds to a second entire image. The display device for avehicle causes an intermediate entire image to be interposed between theentire images.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are front views illustrating images of the displaydevice for a vehicle according to the fifth embodiment, FIG. 15Aillustrates the first entire image, FIG. 15B illustrates the secondentire image, and FIG. 15C illustrates the intermediate entire image.Moreover, in each image illustrated in FIGS. 15A to 15C, the samereference numerals are given to the same elements as those of the firstembodiment.

First, if a current traveling mode is the eco mode, as illustrated inFIG. 15A, the first image control section 1 a displays an eco modedisplay image (certain mark) EP within the first entire image. In thiscase, the first image control section 1 a displays the first entireimage, in which the eco mode display image EP is largely disposed in thecenter of the screen.

Moreover, in the first entire image, a normal mode display image NP anda power mode display image PP indicating other traveling modes are notdisplayed. In the first entire image, the images NP and PP of the othertraveling modes are virtually positioned on an outside of the screen,the normal mode display image NP is virtually positioned on the rightside on the outside of the screen, and the power mode display image PPis virtually positioned on the left side on the outside of the screen.

Then, if a switch 9 is pressed once by the vehicle crew from such adisplay state, the traveling mode is changed from the eco mode to thenormal mode and the second image control section 1 b displays the secondentire image illustrated in FIG. 15B.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 15B, the second image control section 1b displays the second entire image, in which the normal mode displayimage (certain mark) NP is largely disposed in the center of the screen(certain portion) of the display 8, so that the current traveling modeis indicated as the normal mode.

Moreover, also in the second entire image, the power mode display imagePP and the eco mode display image EP that are other traveling modes arenot disposed, the power mode display image PP is virtually positioned onthe right side on the outside of the screen and the eco mode displayimage EP is virtually positioned on the left side on the outside of thescreen.

Then, the intermediate image control section 1 c causes the intermediateentire image illustrated in FIG. 15C to be interposed between the firstentire image and the second entire image.

In the intermediate entire image, the blur image BP, in which the normalmode display image NP is extended in the track direction, is disposed ona track R8 from the right side on the outside of the screen to thecenter of the screen. Furthermore, in the intermediate entire image, theblur image BP, in which the eco mode display image EP is extended in thetrack direction, is disposed on a track R9 from the center of the screento the left side on the outside of the screen.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the first and secondimage control sections 1 a and 1 b display a rotation track image (stillimage) RP and a vehicle image (still image) VP of which positions arenot changed in the first entire image and the second entire imageFurthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, the intermediate image controlsection 1 c displays the blur image BP on the rotation track image RPand the vehicle image VP in the overlapping manner. In addition, in thefifth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the blur image BP isthe gradation image.

As described above, in the display device for a vehicle according to thefifth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the change betweenthe images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reduce thestorage capacity that is used for the smooth expression. In addition,the afterimage feeling is further increased by the change of thegradation and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images. Furthermore, it is possible to smoothly express thechange of the images in accordance with the intention of the vehiclecrew. In addition, the blur image BP that is extended and the odometerimage (still image) P4 that is not extended are displayed in theoverlapping manner, and then the afterimage feeling is furtheremphasized by the overlap and it is possible to further smoothly expressthe change between the images.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the invention will be described. A displaydevice for a vehicle according to the sixth embodiment is similar tothat of the first embodiment, but a part of the contents is different.Hereinafter, different points from the first embodiment will bedescribed.

First, the display device for a vehicle according to the sixthembodiment is directed to a change of an opening image when power supplyof the vehicle is turned on. Thus, the opening image in the sixthembodiment is configured of two images (first half image and second halfimage) and an intermediate entire image interposed between the twoimages. Thus, the first half image of the opening image corresponds to afirst entire image, and the second half image corresponds to a secondentire image.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are front views illustrating images of the displaydevice for a vehicle according to the sixth embodiment, FIG. 16Aillustrates the first entire image, FIG. 16B illustrates the secondentire image, and FIG. 16C illustrates the intermediate entire image.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 16A, the first image control section 1 adisplays the first entire image, in which a circular image (certainmark) CP is disposed in the center of the screen. Moreover, in theexample illustrated in FIG. 16A, the circular image CP is illustrated,but an image of characters or the like indicating a logo mark and amodel name of a car manufacturer may be provided instead of the circularimage CP.

Then, the second image control section 1 b displays the second entireimage illustrated in FIG. 16B. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, thesecond image control section 1 b displays the second entire image ofwhich the circular image CP is enlarged more than that of the firstentire image. The circular image CP in the second entire image isdisplayed in an enlarged position (certain portion) BS in which an upperportion of the circle is positioned in the vicinity of an upper end of ascreen and an lower portion of the circle is positioned in the vicinityof a lower end of the screen in a rectangular screen. Here, even thoughnot illustrated, the circular image CP illustrated in FIG. 16Bcorresponds to a decoration (ring) image surrounding a periphery ofguidelines and scales (dial) displayed in a center of the circular imageCP. After enlargement of the circular image CP, the guidelines, thescales, and the like are sequentially displayed. Moreover, the centerposition of the circular image CP in the second entire image coincideswith the center position of the circular image CP in the first entireimage.

Then, the intermediate image control section 1 c causes the intermediateentire image illustrated in FIG. 16C to be interposed between the firstentire image and the second entire image.

That is, the intermediate image control section 1 c displays theintermediate entire image, in which the blur image BP of which thecircular image CP is extended in the track direction is disposed, on atrack R10 from the center of the screen to the enlarged position BS.

Moreover, in the example illustrated in FIG. 16C, the intermediate imagecontrol section 1 c displays the blur image BP, in which the circularimage CP is extended to the enlarged position BS in the track direction,but is not limited to the example and may display the blur image BP, inwhich the circular image CP is extended to a reduced position SS (seeFIG. 16A) in the transfer direction. In addition, in the sixthembodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the blur image BP is thegradation image and may be displayed on the still image in theoverlapping manner.

As described above, in the display device for a vehicle according to thesixth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the change betweenthe images is smoothly expressed and it is possible to reduce thestorage capacity that is used for the smooth expression. In addition,the afterimage feeling is further increased by the change of thegradation and it is possible to further smoothly express the changebetween the images. Furthermore, the blur image BP that is extended andthe odometer image (still image) P4 that is not extended are displayedin the overlapping manner, and then the afterimage feeling is furtheremphasized by the overlap and it is possible to further smoothly expressthe change between the images.

The invention is described based on the embodiments, but the inventionis not limited to the above-described embodiments. The invention may bemodified without departing from the scope of the invention and thetechnique of each embodiment and may be combined in a possible range.

For example, the display device for a vehicle according to theembodiments has the display 8 in a part of the instrument 10 for avehicle, but the display 8 is not limited to a case of providing as apart of the instrument 10 for a vehicle and, for example, may beprovided in a portion between the driver seat and the passenger seat, aportion for a rear seat, and the like.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device for a vehicle, which performsinformation display by a liquid crystal display, the display devicecomprising: a first image control section that displays a first entireimage in a certain entire display region of the liquid crystal display;a second image control section that displays a second entire image thatis changed from the first entire image displayed by the first imagecontrol section in the certain entire display region; and anintermediate image control section that displays a single intermediateentire image indicating an intermediate stage of a change between thefirst entire image by the first image control section and the secondentire image by the second image control section in the certain entiredisplay region, wherein the second image control section displays afinal display state in which a certain mark is displayed in a certainportion within the certain display region as the second entire image,and wherein the intermediate image control section displays theintermediate entire image having an afterimage of the certain mark beingextended in a track direction on a track of the certain mark moving tothe certain portion.
 2. The display device for a vehicle according toclaim 1, wherein the afterimage is a gradation image in which gradationis changed in an extended direction.
 3. The display device for a vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein the second image control section displaysthe second entire image changed from the first entire image wheninstruction contents from a vehicle crew are input thereto.
 4. Thedisplay device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the firstimage control section and the second image control section display aplurality of state marks corresponding to a plurality of states of thevehicle in each entire image as a plurality of the certain marks, andwherein the second image control section displays the second entireimage in which an arrangement of the plurality of state marks is changedfrom the first entire image.
 5. The display device for a vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the first image control sectionand the second image control section displays a still image whoseposition is not changed in the first entire image and the second entireimage, and wherein the intermediate image control section displays theafterimage overlapping the still images in an overlapping manner.